Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, officially became the mayor of New York City after taking the oath of office on Thursday in a public ceremony held on the steps of Manhattan's City Hall, marking the beginning of a generational and political shift in the leadership of the most populous city in the United States.
In front of a crowd of several thousand people, Mamdani pledged to promote an "aggressive" agenda aimed at making New York a more affordable city for workers.
In his first speech as mayor, he reiterated key commitments from his campaign, such as the implementation of universal childcare, the promotion of affordable housing, and the establishment of a free bus service.
"We will answer to all New Yorkers, not to any billionaire or oligarch who believes they can buy our democracy," he stated. "I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist."
The inauguration included the participation of key figures from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, such as Senator Bernie Sanders, whom Mamdani considers his main inspiration, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
During Sanders' speech, the crowd erupted in applause and began chanting "tax the rich," in support of the idea that millionaires and billionaires should pay higher taxes.
Despite the intense cold, the city set up an observation area along Broadway so that thousands of people could follow the ceremony via live broadcast.
Hours before the public ceremony, Mamdani had taken his oath privately in the early minutes of the New Year at the historic City Hall subway station, which has been closed for decades and is only accessible via guided tours.
In that ceremony, he used the Quran, the holy book of Islam, becoming the first mayor of New York to take an oath on this text, a gesture that reflected his Muslim faith.
The new mayor, a former state legislator, focused his campaign on the high cost of living and was one of the president's most vocal critics Donald Trump on issues such as immigration.
His election in November—with a record turnout of more than two million voters—led him to secure 50% of the votes, nearly ten points ahead of Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and with a significant lead over the Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Dean Fuleihan, his new deputy mayor, announced that the administration will push for tax increases on millionaires to fulfill campaign promises and balance the municipal budget, and he assured that he does not foresee an exodus of the wealthiest residents as a result of these measures.
Mamdani's rise to power has had nationwide repercussions. His style has been adopted by some Democrats and, at the same time, used by Republicans as an ideological point of contrast ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
President Donald Trump went so far as to accuse him of being a "communist," although he claimed he was willing to "help him a little", following warnings of federal funding cuts to the city if Mamdani was elected.
Born in Kampala, Uganda, and the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, the new mayor emigrated to New York in his childhood, graduated in African Studies, and forged his political career from student activism to the State Assembly.
His style, influenced by inclusive language, cultural references, and a public identity shaped by his Muslim faith, allowed him to connect with immigrant communities, precarious youth, and workers in transportation and public housing.
Her election has been viewed as a sign of the advancement of urban progressivism in the United States, but it has also raised concerns among moderate Democrats and business sectors, who fear a radical ideological shift in the city's management.
At the same time, criticisms are resurfacing over past statements where he avoided labeling Miguel Díaz-Canel and Nicolás Maduro as dictators, asserting that his vision of "democratic socialism" is not tied to the repression in Cuba or Venezuela, but rather to ensuring that "every New Yorker can live a dignified life."
These positions have raised concern among Cuban and Venezuelan communities in the metropolitan area, which question their ambiguity regarding authoritarian governments.
With his inauguration, Mamdani opens a new political chapter in New York, backed by a broad electoral base and a message that promises to transform the city with a social justice and redistribution agenda, all while navigating a polarized national political landscape and mixed expectations among its eight million residents.
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